Fees and Financial Assistance

Finance Information

Refund of Mandatory Fees, Including Nonresident Tuition

Regulations governing the refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide fees and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-support academic programs at the California State University.

Refunds of fees and tuition charges for self-supported programs at the California State University (courses offered through extended education) are governed by a separate policy established by the university.

In order to receive a full refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses prior to the first day of instruction for the term. Information on procedures and deadlines for canceling registration and dropping classes is available in the Schedule of Classes.
For state-supported semesters, quarters, and non-standard terms or courses of four (4) weeks or more, a student who withdraws during the term in accordance with the university's established procedures will receive a refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, based on the portion of the term during which the student was enrolled. No student withdrawing after the 60 percent point in the term will be entitled to a refund of any mandatory fees or nonresident tuition.

For state-supported semesters, quarters, and non-standard terms or courses of less than four (4) weeks, no refunds of mandatory fees and nonresident tuition will be made unless a student cancels registration or drops all classes prior to the first day in accordance with the university's established procedures and deadlines.
Students will also receive a refund of mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition under the following circumstances:

The tuition and mandatory fees were assessed or collected in error;

The course for which the tuition and mandatory fees were assessed or collected was cancelled by the university;

The university makes a delayed decision that the student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which mandatory fees were assessed and collected and the delayed decision was not due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the student; or

The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above may petition the university for a refund demonstrating exceptional circumstances and the chief financial officer of the university or designee may authorize a refund if he or she determines that the fees and tuition were not earned by the university.

Information concerning any aspect of the refund of fees may be obtained from the Student Account Services Office.

Refunds of Registration and Tuition Fees

Details regarding Registration and Tuition Fee Refunds may be found in the Schedule of Classes. As this information may differ from one semester to another, students are advised to refer to the Schedule of Classes for that particular semester. Students must complete the class drop or withdrawal process prior to becoming eligible for any credit of fees. The amount to be refunded is determined by the effective withdrawal or drop date. In addition, any other outstanding financial obligations that the student may have incurred will be deducted from any credits due to the student before a refund is processed. Refund deadlines are reflected in the Schedule of Classes. A $10.00 processing fee will be withheld from the refunds.

Details regarding refunds due to Medical Withdrawals can be found in the Schedule of Classes.

Further details regarding fees that may be refunded and the circumstances under which they may be refunded may be obtained by consulting the California Code of Regulations, Title V, in the following sections:

Special Circumstances Refunds

Students who withdraw or drop in units after the deadlines detailed in the Schedule of Classes have passed, may appeal for a Special Circumstances Refund based on the following:

A. Campus Variation
B. Compulsory Military Service
C. Death of Student
D. Fees Collected in Error

Further information regarding Special Circumstances Refunds by calling the Student Account Services Office at (562) 985-4167.

2. Financial Appeals Independent Review Committee (F.A.I.R.)

If a student wishes to petition the decision made at the first appeal level, a written request must be submitted to the F.A.I.R. Committee (BH 155) for review.

This Committee has been approved by the President as the final financial appeal level. It consists of representatives from various University Offices. F.A.I.R. will only review appeals for the current academic year.